Getting Started with the AJGA

What is the AJGA?

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

Since 1978, the American Junior Golf Association has been devoted to conducting national junior golf tournaments at the highest level of junior golf. The AJGA conducts more than 116 tournaments annually for young players, ages 12-19. At each event, the AJGA seeks to live up to its mission statement by providing a first-class venue, professional staff and a safe environment. The AJGA requires its golfers to adhere to a Code of Conduct and the AJGA Pace of Play policy.

Why should I join?

Most junior golfers join the AJGA to play tournament golf, where they will find outstanding competition and be seen by college golf coaches, in hopes of securing a college golf scholarship. The benefits go beyond the tournaments, however.

The AJGA offers three different membership options. The standard Junior Membership is recommended for those who have not yet reached their sophomore year of high school.

The Junior Plus Membership is recommended for high school sophomores and juniors who are planning to play college golf. Younger players may wish to become Junior Plus Members in order to better prepare themselves for the recruiting process yet to come. Players who sign up for the Junior Membership may upgrade to the Junior Plus during the season.

The Future Player Membership is a non-playing membership for those who are either not old enough to compete in AJGA events or have no intention of applying to play in AJGA events. This offers an opportunity for younger players to keep abreast of AJGA events and programs.

How do I join?

Joining the AJGA can be done online at ajga.org. Click here and you will be taken to the AJGA online membership form. After submitting your membership the AJGA will send an automated e-mail confirmation which includes your AJGA Member ID # and a summary of the information entered on the membership form. Members will also be mailed a membership gift with other membership benefit items.

Prior to applying to your first tournament or qualifier, you will need to submit acceptable proof-of-age documentation to the AJGA. A copy of either a birth certificate, passport or driver’s license is acceptable documentation. This document can be mailed or emailed to the AJGA. Please click the link above for the complete policy and submission instructions.

Who is eligible to be an AJGA member?

Players desiring to compete in AJGA events may sign up for Junior or Junior Plus Membership. However, they must be at least 12 years of age to participate in an AJGA event. Future Player Membership (non-playing) is available for players who are younger than 12 or who want to receive AJGA membership benefits without participating in events.

Eligibility to participate in AJGA events depends on several factors. For full AJGA Competitive Eligibility Criteria, click here.

What playing opportunities are available with the AJGA?

Junior Golf Hub Preview Series

The Junior Golf Hub Preview Series is designed specifically for AJGA members who have not yet been accepted to an AJGA tournament. This series offers members the opportunity to start building Performance Based Entry status before application deadlines arrive for summer Open and ACDS Junior All-Star Series events.

For more information about the Junior Golf Hub Preview Series click here.

ACDS Junior All-Star Series

The ACDS Junior All-Star Series is a collection of events specifically designed for boys and girls age 12-15 years old. All Junior All-Star tournaments are filled using the AJGA’s Performance Based Entry system. Each AJGA member has a status that reflects how he has performed in state, regional and national junior golf events, both AJGA and non-AJGA events. Tournament fields are filled by players who have the highest status and have properly applied to the event. The competition provides an opportunity for younger members to develop their skills within the 12-15 year age group and build higher levels of Performance Based Entry status for later entry into Open tournaments. Members are limited to a maximum combination of five AJGA Open and ACDS Junior All-Star Series events per season. NOTE:Members may compete in a maximum of four ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournaments per season.

Click here to view more information on Performance Based Entry and see a complete list of tournaments where players can build their Performance Based Entry status.

AJGA members are eligible to apply for ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournaments, regardless of their earned status. Members who do not earn entry into a ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournament can apply to the AJGA Qualifier for that event, if available. There is no requirement to apply to a ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournament in order to apply to its corresponding AJGA Qualifier.

Members who apply to ACDS Junior All-Star Series events and do not gain entry are NOT automatically moved to the AJGA Qualifier for that event. They must submit a separate AJGA Qualifier application.

The series concludes with the invitation-only Junior All-Star Invitational, which is not included in the maximum count of five tournaments. For more information about the ACDS Junior All-Star Series click here.

Open Tournament Series

AJGA Open tournaments make up the largest part of the AJGA schedule. All members may submit tournament applications to Open tournaments. All AJGA Open tournaments are filled using the AJGA’s Performance Based Entry system. Each AJGA member has a status that reflects how he has performed in state, regional and national junior golf events, both AJGA and non-AJGA events. Tournament fields are filled by players who have the highest status and have properly applied to the event. Members are limited to a maximum combination of five AJGA Open and/or ACDS Junior All-Star Series events. NOTE:Members may compete in a maximum of four ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournaments per season. Click here to view more information on Performance Based Entry and see a complete list of tournaments where players can build their Performance Based Entry status.

AJGA members are eligible to apply for AJGA Open tournaments, regardless of their earned status. Members who do not earn entry into an Open tournament can apply to the AJGA Qualifier for that event. There is no requirement to apply to an Open tournament in order to apply to its corresponding AJGA Qualifier.

Members who apply to AJGA Open events and do not gain entry are NOT automatically moved to the AJGA Qualifier for that event. They must submit a separate AJGA Qualifier application.

Invitational Events

These championships require an invitation based on specific selection criteria. Eligible members for each Invitational will appear on an invitation list at ajga.org. Eligible members must submit a tournament application in the AJGA Player Center. For more information and selection criteria for Invitational events, click here.

AJGA Qualifier Series

The AJGA Qualifier Series is one of the main ways players get their start with the AJGA.

Typically held the day prior to AJGA Open and ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournaments, 18-hole AJGA Qualifiers give players an opportunity to "play their way in" to each coinciding tournament and earn PBE status for a future event. Typically, 10% of boys in an AJGA Qualifier and 10% of girls in an AJGA Qualifier will move on to play in the corresponding tournament. The exact number of spots will be posted at AJGA Qualifier registration. For more information about AJGA Qualifiers, click here.

Proof-of-Age Documentation

Prior to applying to your first tournament or qualifier, you will need to submit acceptable proof-of-age documentation to the AJGA. A copy of either a birth certificate, passport or driver’s license is acceptable documentation. This document must be mailed or emailed to the AJGA. Please click the link above for the complete policy and submission instructions.

Do you have more questions?

More answers to questions involving AJGA tournaments and policies are available in the Membership FAQ. Also, the AJGA's Player Services Department is ready to answer your questions. Call the AJGA toll-free at (877) 373-2542 or (770) 868-4200 or contact Player Services via email at ajga@ajga.org.

Mission Statement

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.